The end of one year and the start of another is a great time for reflection, it is also a great time to review your financial plan and investments.

Reflecting on market performance, 2024 saw significant movements in the stock markets. For the full year, the U.S. market was up just over 36%, and the Canadian market was up a little over 22%.¹ How did your portfolio do?

These market performances, whether directly reflected in your portfolio or not, provide valuable context for evaluating your own financial position. They offer insight into broader economic trends and can help you gauge the effectiveness of your investment strategy.

What about risk, do you have too much, too little? What about asset classes, are you in the right ones? Should they be rebalanced or changed? What about economic opportunities and challenges, is your portfolio agile or appropriately aligned? Have your financial circumstances or objectives changed since last year?

Sharing insights, with local business leaders recently, I had the privilege of delving into these topics during an economic update seminar hosted by our local chamber of commerce at the library. The event provided a platform to discuss current market trends, economic indicators, and strategies for navigating the financial landscape in 2025.

Macroeconomics play a role in portfolio analysis. The extent of their role depends on the portfolio manager, some are strictly concerned with individual stocks, whereas others want to look at the bigger picture. 

On January 17^th, The Willson Investment Group was hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce to provide an economic update over breakfast. The economic update examined the following topics: the path down for interest rates in 2025, how much room there is for the economy to accelerate, the impact of the US election results on the Canadian economy, how the Ontario economy differs from the national picture, and what risks and opportunities are associated with those differences.

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting your financial journey, staying informed is crucial.

If you missed the chamber seminar, but are interested in learning more about how recent economic developments might impact your financial plan,  please reach out.

¹ _{https://www.cibc.com/en/asset-management/insights/markets-and-economy/2025-market-outlook.html}

 

Fraser Willson, CFP, CIM | Senior Wealth Advisor | CIBC Wood Gundy | Collingwood | Fraser.Willson@cibc.com | (647) 588-4344

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